Early runs, Davies’ strong start propel Milwaukee Brewers to 7-0 win over Braves

WP: Zach Davies (8-4); LP: Julio Teheran (6-6); Save: none; Homeruns: Mil - Travis Shaw (15), Keon Broxton (13); Atl - none

Box Score

Julio Teheran proved that his inability to pitch at the Atlanta Braves’ new Sun Trust Park was no myth today, giving up seven runs in three plus innings on eight hits, two walks, and two homers allowed. After he gave up a lead-off double to Brewers’ starting pitcher Zach Davies to lead off the third, he was pulled in favor of Luke Jackson. Jackson allowed an RBI single from Eric Sogard to allow in his inherited runner, but then Luke shut the Brewers’ offense down for four innings after that, but the damage was done. Teheran has now lost six games, and all of them have come at home.

Zach Davies day at the plate also included a nice sacrifice bunt, but more importantly he shut out the Braves for seven innings. Looking like the Davies of last year, he allowed just four hits, a walk, and didn’t strike out anybody.

The Brewers scored twice in the top of the first. With two down and nobody on, Domingo Santana singled sharply up the middle and Travis Shaw followed with a tape-measure homer to right, over the second deck. They added their third run in the top of the second on an opposite field towering shot from Keon Broxton that landed in the nice garden fringe just over the wall.

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Milwaukee moved the lead to six with a nice two out rally in the top of the third. A second single for Santana, a walk to Shaw, an RBI single from Hernan Perez, a walk from Manny Pina (coming back from an 0-2 count), and a two-run single from Broxton took the lead to 6 zip into the bottom of the third.

Broxton doubled with one down in the top of the eighth for his third hit of the game, giving Nick Franklin an opportunity to bat for Davies in perhaps his last appearance as a Brewer, with Ryan Braun and Jonathan Villar returning from their rehab in Appleton. Nick flew out to left to end the frame.

Domingo Santana joined Broxton in the Three Hit Club with a two out double in the top of the ninth, and Lewis Brinson also got a (presumed) swan song for this stint in the majors, pinch hitting for Shaw. Brinson grounded to short to end the inning, and unlike Franklin he is sure to be back, probably in September barring injury to a starter that would require his presence back with the big club.

Paolo Espino came in for Milwaukee in the bottom of the eighth with the goal of finishing the contest with a two inning effort. Espino didn’t have a clean outing, giving up a hit and two walks, but mission accomplished - that’s 4.2 consecutive scoreless innings out of the pen for Paolo.

The Brewers moved to 41-37 and pushed their lead to 1½ games over the Cubs, a 4-2 loser to the Marlins. After a day off Monday Milwaukee will be in Cincinnati for a three game set with the Reds. Cincy is bringing up the rear of the NL Central. Projected starters are Junior Guerra (1-1, 3.11) for Milwaukee and Tim Adelman (4-4, 4.30 ERA) for the Reds.